The query I am posed with regards, specifically, nuclear weapons. Should we continue to develop and maintain nuclear weapons? No; honestly, we should've never developed them, or any weapons for that matter. Weapons are trivial and costly, life is imperative and priceless. It does not take scores and scores of synapses between one's neurons to figure out that the loss of a life by means of arms is immoral, appalling, and has an irreversible detriment. So why take the initiative to create one? It is a retributive premonition I simply do not have. Speaking syllogistically, weapons are created to inflict harm upon humans. We are all humans. Therefore, why would anyone want to inflict harm upon ourselves? Essentially, the harm you inflict upon a neighbor is ultimately reciprocated.
In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind". Take a few seconds to think about his avowal. Now, think about the world that we live in today and what it is beset with: famine, enmity, devastation, poverty, prejudice. Should we really fight violence with violence? If we did, we'd be reverting to a system justice that has grown extremely obsolete in our modern society. Over four thousand years ago, one of the most primitive sets of law was established; it was called the Code of Hammurabi. This Mesopotamian code divulged to all of her populace a series of rules and their unequivocal punishments, should anyone chose to commit an infraction. If, per se, one were to steal, consequently, they would loose their hand. Lex talionis, translated from Latin to mean "law of retaliation", was the ubiquitous standard. Retributive justice was the only means of punishment. It, however, had its faults. What if one was to commit adultery? Would they geld him? Would they spay her? Some were; others came to the revelation that, possibly, such a punishment would be too austere. Thus, this perplexity heralded more justified forms of punishment such as prison, parole, and a slew of other modern-day reprimands. If we were to resort to the days of lex talionis, it would prove our negligence to the lessons humanity has learned over the course of our existence. Are we not proving this negligence contemporarily through the likes of our production of weapons, let alone the production of Weapons of Mass Destruction's, solely for the purpose of retaliatory effect? One can only venture a guess at what the world would be like devoid of artillery.
The query I am posed with regards, specifically, nuclear weapons. Should we continue to develop and maintain nuclear weapons? No; honestly, we should've never developed them, or any weapons for that matter. Weapons are trivial and costly, life is imperative and priceless. It does not take scores and scores of synapses between one's neurons to figure out that the loss of a life by means of arms is immoral, appalling, and has an irreversible detriment. So why take the initiative to create one? It is a retributive premonition I simply do not have. Speaking syllogistically, weapons are created to inflict harm upon humans. We are all humans. Therefore, why would anyone want to inflict harm upon ourselves? Essentially, the harm you inflict upon a neighbor is ultimately reciprocated.
A man once said that "there are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for". That man was Mahatma Gandhi. It is of dire concern that more of those who either have a stranglehold of or are democratically elected to positions of power have not taken these words into serious consideration. These men could abet notions against nuclear armament. These men could righteously, notably, and assertively stake a claim in favor of peace, striving for the eradication of missiles, bombs, and guns. Any action at all to reduce arsenal is a positive one. Whether it be by regulation or self-belief, the United States in tandem with all other countries from which this world is comprised should strive towards an Earth with no ordnance whatsoever.
Now, I could relay the fallacy that, since the Cold War has come and gone, it is now, more than ever, the time for nuclear disarmament, however, this would be misleading. Yesterday was the time for nuclear disarmament; and, the day before that was the time to doctor the abortion of all weaponry. It is unreasonable to think that the United States and other nuclear-capable countries throughout the world will not continue their callous endeavors into the non-art of developing and furthering nuclear capability, because they will. I merely implore that those who engage in and authorize war be consciously aware of the irreparable effects of war. Again, the words of Mahatma Gandhi: "when I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall --think of it, always."
Do we truly want to be "tyrants and murderers"?